How coronavirus is affecting bay island residents

More coronavirus fever clinics and protecting the especially vulnerable population of this unique Queensland community are top priorities its local disaster management team.

There are concerns about the need for SMBI residents to travel by ferry to the mainland in the wake of coronavirus. Photo: Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images

MORE coronavirus fever clinics and protecting the bay islands’ prominent aging population are top priorities for Redland City’s disaster management team as it puts in place measures to support the region in the face of the virus.

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A meeting between key stakeholders including Redland City Council, Queensland Health, Queensland Ambulance Service, police, aged care representatives and the Primary Health Network today highlighted the need to protect the region’s most vulnerable communities — those located on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

Group chair and mayor Karen Williams said Queensland Health figures showed the Stradbroke and the bay islands, along with Cleveland and Victoria Point were the Redlands’ most at risk of coronavirus affects.

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Cr Williams said that the high proportion of elderly residents living on the islands, along with their remoteness posed particular problems for residents.

She the need for residents to board public ferries to access basic needs like medicine, groceries and healthcare forced them to be exposed to potential coronavirus risks.

She said a “bespoke” approach to addressing the needs of islanders was being curated.

She said it could include increased communication with residents on the islands through local champions, letterbox drops and other measures, as well as increasing the provision of groceries to remove the need for travelling to the mainland.

Protecting the high proportion of aging residents on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands is a priority for the Redlands’ disaster management group.

She said the measures were being put in place early because “this is not a matter of if, this is a matter of when” coronavirus would truly affect the region.

One person is already in isolation on Stradbroke Island and a case was confirmed at Redland Hospital recently.

While the situation may sound concerning for some, Cr Williams assured residents the region was in the hands of some of the world’s best health care and most experienced diaster planning teams, giving the Redlands the edge when it came to dealing with increasing coronavirus concerns.

“The good thing about Queensland is that we have a very strong disaster network.”

While one fever clinic for coronavirus testing has already been established at Redland Hospital, Cr Williams said investigations were underway into possible locations for more in the region. She said that may include a station on the islands.

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Division 5 candidate and island resident Ann Hagen said there was a concern for island residents about the need to use public transport to access the mainlands.

“I think people feel they are more at risk if the have to catch a ferry,” she said.

“You can’t really practice social distancing during peak times.”

Ms Hagen said she was yet to hear back from an email sent to public transport operaters on the islands about increasing awareness of hygiene practices, like using sanitiser provided by the operators, while travelling.

“Not many people seem to use it (the sanitiser),” she said.

However she said panic buying did not appear to be as big an issue for island residents.

“The IGA (on Russell Island) has been very well stocked... I think the panic is maybe more a mainland thing.”